Huawei is set to launch its first personal computers running on the HarmonyOS NEXT operating system on May 19, marking a major milestone in the company’s shift toward a fully self-reliant software ecosystem like Apple’s. This move eliminates reliance on Android or Windows, positioning Huawei as a pioneer in building a unified operating system for mobile and desktop environments.
Unlike previous HarmonyOS versions, HarmonyOS NEXT is built from the ground up without Android compatibility, introducing a clean-slate architecture optimized for speed, security, and seamless device integration. The PCs are expected to feature native AI capabilities like smart transcription and document summarization, powered by Huawei’s PanGu large model.
The new computers will also serve as core components in Huawei’s broader ecosystem strategy, enabling real-time collaboration across phones, tablets, and wearables. Features like shared multitasking and cross-device drag and drop suggest Huawei is aiming to redefine how users interact with technology across screens.
Apple had made a similar transition years ago when it moved from Intel processors to its M series chips and integrated macOS more tightly with its ecosystem, an ambitious shift that ultimately paid off. All eyes are now on Huawei to see whether HarmonyOS NEXT can achieve the same success on the PC frontier.
As is typical of most Chinese tech companies, the devices will launch first in China, with a global rollout expected to follow later on.
